Orthodontists are dental specialists who concentrate on fixing irregularities in teeth and jaws. They straighten teeth and help correct problems such as overbites and underbites.

If you’ve ever had braces or a retainer to straighten your teeth, you can thank your orthodontist for creating a corrective treatment plan specifically for your needs.

“In dental school, I was fascinated with how the face and jaws grow and how the teeth, jaws and a person’s smile affect how they feel about themselves,” says Chris Roberts, 2020-21 American Association of Orthodontists president and adjunct clinical associate professor of dentistry at the University of Michigan. “It takes many years of higher education to become an orthodontist, but it is the most rewarding career I can imagine.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.5% employment growth for orthodontists between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 300 jobs should open up.

Aspiring orthodontists commit to roughly a decade of schooling and training before they can become licensed and certified to practice.

“Typically, an orthodontist has finished four years of undergraduate college, four years of dental school and an additional two to three years of full-time residency to become an orthodontic specialist,” Roberts says.

Candidates must take the four-hour-long Dental Admission Test to apply to dental school in the U.S. The American Dental Education Association recommends students take the test at least one year before they intend to start dental school and after completing their biology and chemistry prerequisites. Many students take the admissions test after their third year of college, according to the ADEA.

Dental school students also must pass a national board exam. Traditionally, this has been the two-part National Board Dental Examination, but that is being phased out and replaced by the Integrated National Board Dental Examination, which launched in 2020.

Landing a residency is extremely competitive. There are 67 residency programs in the U.S., and only 4% of applicants are admitted to a program, Roberts says.

During their residency, prospective orthodontists hone their skills by learning and practicing under professionals.